This series, COLLECTIBLE In-Depth, unveils the backstage of contemporary creation. Tackling various topics from personal designer processes to the position of collectible design on the global design market, COLLECTIBLE In-Depth offers different views to suit all tastes. Today we speak with Emma Scully.

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C: What do you think collectible design brings compared to other more massively produced pieces?

ES: From a purely logistical standpoint, collectible design stands apart from mass-produced items by merging art, craftsmanship, and functionality. Each piece is unique: it tells the designer's story and reflects its cultural context.

Contextually-speaking, what distinguishes collectible design is the creative freedom it affords. Without the constraints of industrial production, designers can fully explore their artistic vision, resulting in pieces that elevate everyday objects into works of art. Collectible design is an investment in creativity, offering both aesthetic and cultural value that transcends the ordinary.

C: How do you position your city in the global design market, what makes your city unique?

ES: New York City is not just an American city. Its unique blend of history, culture, and a vibrant creative community makes it a magnet for talent and a hub of continuous innovation, allowing it to set trends that resonate on a global scale. The city’s distinctive synergy between the local and the global creates a dynamic environment where ideas and cultures intersect seamlessly. Positioned at the heart of this vibrant ecosystem, we are uniquely poised to showcase American design to the world while also bringing international design to American clients. New York’s capacity to continually generate fresh ideas and its role as a crossroads of creativity make it an unparalleled leader in the global design market.

C: How can collectors contribute to the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage through their acquisitions of collectible design pieces?

ES: Collectors are how we continue! What we do is a – growing – corner of the design industry. The support of collectors affirms the work of designers and artisans, and, by allowing them to keep making, it preserves and promotes cultural heritage. By choosing to invest in collectible design, collectors help to sustain the practices and knowledge that might otherwise fade in a world dominated by mass production. Moreover, they contribute to the creation of a legacy, ensuring that future generations have access to the rich tapestry of cultural and artistic expressions.